Teach your Schnauzer 7 incredible tricks today. Fun skills that keep them engaged and impress everyone who meets them.
There’s something magical about the moment your dog finally “gets it.” That spark of understanding in their eyes, the wagging tail, the pride radiating from their entire being. Schnauzers experience this joy intensely because they’re wired to work, solve problems, and collaborate with their humans.
The breed’s natural intelligence and work ethic mean they’re always ready for the next challenge. These seven tricks aren’t just party tricks (though they definitely are that too). They’re opportunities to strengthen your bond, provide mental stimulation, and give your Schnauzer the sense of purpose they desperately crave.
The Foundation: Why Schnauzers Excel at Trick Training
Before diving into specific tricks, let’s talk about why your Schnauzer is basically a genius in disguise. Originally bred as versatile farm dogs in Germany, Schnauzers were tasked with everything from ratting to guarding to herding. This multi-purpose background created a dog with exceptional problem-solving abilities and an intense desire to work alongside humans.
Positive reinforcement is your golden ticket with this breed. Schnauzers respond beautifully to treats, praise, and play rewards. However, they can also be independent thinkers (translation: stubborn when they want to be), so keeping training sessions fun and varied prevents boredom and maintains their enthusiasm.
Training a Schnauzer isn’t about dominance or showing who’s boss. It’s about creating a partnership where your dog actively wants to participate because the work itself is rewarding.
1. The Classic “Play Dead” (Bang!)
This crowd-pleaser never gets old. Teaching your Schnauzer to dramatically flop over when you point a finger gun and say “bang” combines humor with impressive obedience.
Start with your dog in a down position. Hold a treat near their nose and slowly move it toward their shoulder, encouraging them to roll onto their side. The moment they commit to the roll, say your command word (like “bang” or “play dead”) and reward generously.
Practice this motion repeatedly until your Schnauzer associates the command with the action. Then comes the fun part: adding the finger gun gesture. Schnauzers are brilliant at picking up visual cues, often learning hand signals even faster than verbal commands. Within a few days of consistent practice, your pup will be dramatically “dying” on command, complete with tongue lolling if you’re lucky.
The key is consistency and patience. Some Schnauzers nail this within a week; others need two or three. Don’t rush the process. The journey of learning together strengthens your relationship more than the final trick itself.
2. Fetch Specific Items by Name
Here’s where your Schnauzer’s intelligence really shines. Teaching your dog to fetch specific toys by name demonstrates problem-solving, memory, and language comprehension that rivals a toddler’s cognitive abilities.
Begin with two distinctly different toys. Let’s say a rope and a ball. Practice with only the rope for several sessions, using its name repeatedly: “Get rope! Good rope!” Once your Schnauzer reliably fetches the rope, introduce the ball with the same process.
Now the real test begins. Place both toys on the floor and ask for one specifically. If your dog grabs the wrong item, don’t reward. Simply say “uh oh” in a neutral tone and encourage them to try again. When they select correctly, celebrate like they’ve just won a Nobel Prize.
| Training Phase | Estimated Time | Success Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| Single item recognition | 3 to 5 days | Dog fetches correct item 80% of the time |
| Two item differentiation | 1 to 2 weeks | Dog chooses correct item between two options |
| Three or more items | 2 to 4 weeks | Dog selects requested item from multiple options |
Schnauzers have been documented learning upwards of 10 to 15 distinct item names. Some exceptional individuals can recognize dozens. This trick isn’t just impressive; it’s genuinely useful. Imagine asking your Schnauzer to bring you your phone, the remote, or their leash when it’s walk time.
3. The Spin and Twirl Combo
Movement-based tricks showcase your Schnauzer’s agility and create opportunities for physical exercise wrapped in mental stimulation. The spin and twirl (spinning in opposite directions on different commands) looks incredibly polished when executed smoothly.
Hold a treat at nose level and slowly guide your Schnauzer in a complete circle. As they follow the treat, say “spin” clearly. Reward immediately after the complete rotation. Repeat until the verbal command alone triggers the behavior.
For the twirl (the opposite direction), use the exact same process but introduce a different command word. Your clever Schnauzer will initially be confused about why you’re suddenly asking for something different. That confusion is actually good; it means they’re thinking critically about what you want.
The magic happens when you can alternate between commands, and your dog executes each direction flawlessly. This demonstrates genuine comprehension rather than rote memorization. Plus, watching a Schnauzer with flowing beard and leg furnishings do spinning tricks is objectively delightful.
4. Clean Up Your Toys
This trick wins the prize for most practical. Teaching your Schnauzer to pick up their toys and drop them into a bin transforms cleanup time from a chore into an interactive game.
Start by teaching “take it” and “drop it” separately if your dog hasn’t mastered these basics. Once solid, place a toy bin nearby and hold it at an accessible height. Encourage your Schnauzer to take a toy, then hold the bin under their mouth and say “drop it.” Treat and praise when the toy lands in the bin.
The breakthrough moment comes when your Schnauzer realizes that putting toys in the bin equals treats and praise. Suddenly, they’re motivated to repeat the behavior without you holding the bin.
Gradually lower the bin to the floor and increase the distance between your dog and the toy they need to retrieve. Some Schnauzers become so enthusiastic about this trick that they’ll spontaneously clean up without being asked, just because it’s become a rewarding game.
5. The Handstand (Wall Walking)
For athletic Schnauzers who love a physical challenge, teaching them to walk up a wall into a handstand position is advanced but absolutely achievable. This trick requires core strength, balance, and trust in their handler.
Position your Schnauzer perpendicular to a wall. Hold a treat above and slightly behind their head, encouraging them to reach upward. Initially, they’ll just stretch. Reward any attempt to lift their front paws. Over many sessions, gradually increase the height requirement before rewarding.
Eventually, your dog will place their front paws on the wall to reach the treat. From there, continue raising the treat so they “walk” their paws higher up the wall. The goal is getting their back paws off the ground, even briefly. This takes time, possibly weeks or months, but Schnauzers with their strong terrier builds can absolutely achieve it.
Safety note: Always support your dog’s hindquarters during initial attempts to prevent them from falling backward. This builds confidence and trust.
6. Find the Treat (Scent Work Game)
Tap into your Schnauzer’s natural scenting abilities with this mentally exhausting game. Hide treats around a room and send your dog to “find it.” This mimics professional scent work training but in an accessible, fun format.
Begin obviously. Place a treat in plain sight and say “find it” enthusiastically. When your dog locates and eats it, celebrate. Gradually make hiding spots more challenging: behind furniture legs, under rugs, inside cardboard boxes with openings.
Schnauzers have excellent noses (remember that ratting heritage) and will quickly understand the game’s objective. The beautiful part is watching their problem-solving process. They’ll check previous successful spots first, then systematically search the room, nose working overtime.
A 15 minute scent work session mentally tires a Schnauzer more than a 45 minute walk. This trick is perfect for rainy days or when you can’t provide extensive physical exercise.
Advanced variations include hiding specific scented objects (like a particular toy sprayed with a unique scent) among distractors, creating a simplified version of professional detection work.
7. The Bow (Take a Bow)
End your trick repertoire with this elegant flourish. Teaching your Schnauzer to bow on command creates a perfect finale to any performance and captures that moment of regal charm that Schnauzers naturally possess.
Your dog probably already performs a natural bow during play (the classic “play bow” with chest down, rear up). Your job is capturing that behavior and putting it on command. Watch for natural bows during play sessions and immediately mark them with a clicker or “yes!” followed by treats.
Alternatively, use a lure method. From a standing position, hold a treat between your dog’s front paws, encouraging them to lower their chest while keeping their rear elevated. This is tricky because dogs naturally want to lie down completely. You may need to gently place a hand under their belly to prevent the full drop.
The bow is perfect for beginning or ending trick sequences. There’s something wonderfully theatrical about a bearded Schnauzer taking a gentlemanly bow, and it never fails to earn applause from audiences.
Making It Stick: Training Tips for Success
Short, frequent sessions beat long, exhausting ones every time. Aim for 5 to 10 minute training blocks, two or three times daily. Schnauzers can become frustrated or bored with repetition, so ending on a high note maintains enthusiasm for the next session.
Keep a training journal noting which tricks your Schnauzer masters quickly versus which require more time. This isn’t about judging your dog’s intelligence; it’s about understanding their unique learning style and preferences. Some Schnauzers excel at physical tricks, others at cognitive challenges.
Finally, remember that variety keeps training exciting. Rotate through different tricks rather than drilling one endlessly. Your Schnauzer’s brain craves novelty, and mixing up your training routine prevents staleness.
The relationship you build through trick training transcends the tricks themselves. You’re creating a shared language, deepening trust, and giving your Schnauzer the mental challenges they need to thrive. Those bushy eyebrows might look comically serious, but behind them is a sharp mind ready to learn, play, and show off at every opportunity.
